12. The SelfAttavagga

If you knew your self as beloved,Attānañce piyaṁ jaññā, you’d look after it so well.rakkheyya naṁ surakkhitaṁ; In one of the night’s three watches,Tiṇṇaṁ aññataraṁ yāmaṁ, an astute person would remain alert.paṭijaggeyya paṇḍito.

The astute would avoid being corruptedAttānameva paṭhamaṁ, by first grounding themselvespatirūpe nivesaye; in what is suitable,Athaññamanusāseyya, and then instructing others.na kilisseyya paṇḍito.

If one were to treat oneselfAttānañce tathā kayirā, as one instructs another,yathāññamanusāsati; the well-tamed indeed would tame:Sudanto vata dametha, for the self, it seems, is hard to tame.attā hi kira duddamo.

One is indeed the lord of oneself,Attā hi attano nātho, for who else would be one’s lord?ko hi nātho paro siyā; By means of a well-tamed self,Attanā hi sudantena, one gains a lord that’s rare indeed.nāthaṁ labhati dullabhaṁ.

For the evil that is done by oneself,Attanā hi kataṁ pāpaṁ, born and produced in oneself,Attajaṁ attasambhavaṁ; grinds down a simpleton,Abhimatthati dummedhaṁ, as diamond grinds a lesser gem.Vajiraṁvasmamayaṁ maṇiṁ.

One choked by immorality,Yassa accantadussilyaṁ, as a sal tree by a creeper,māluvā sālamivotthataṁ; does to themselvesKaroti so tathattānaṁ, what a foe only wishes.yathā naṁ icchatī diso.

It’s easy to do bad thingsSukarāni asādhūni, harmful to oneself,attano ahitāni ca; but good things that are helpfulYaṁ ve hitañca sādhuñca, are the hardest things to do.taṁ ve paramadukkaraṁ.

On account of wicked views—Yo sāsanaṁ arahataṁ, scorning the guidanceariyānaṁ dhammajīvinaṁ; of the perfected ones,Paṭikkosati dummedho, the noble ones living righteously—diṭṭhiṁ nissāya pāpikaṁ; the idiot begets their own self’s demise,Phalāni kaṭṭhakasseva, like the bamboo bearing fruit.attaghātāya phallati.

For it is by oneself that evil’s done,Attanā hi kataṁ pāpaṁ, one is corrupted by oneself.attanā saṅkilissati; It’s by oneself that evil’s not done,Attanā akataṁ pāpaṁ, one is purified by oneself.attanāva visujjhati; Purity and impurity are personal matters,Suddhī asuddhi paccattaṁ, no one can purify another.nāñño aññaṁ visodhaye.

Never neglect what is good for yourselfAttadatthaṁ paratthena, for the sake of another, however great.bahunāpi na hāpaye; Knowing well what is good for yourself,Attadatthamabhiññāya, be intent upon your heart’s goal.sadatthapasuto siyā.